Tim Clancy had bemoaned St Pat’s head-to-head record with Derry City in the build-up to this eagerly awaited opening night clash.
The Candystripes were the only team the Saints failed to beat last season and by the 89th minute, he must have had the same sinking feeling.
St Pat’s took just one point from a possible 12 against Derry in 2022 and appeared to be heading for a narrow defeat here until Joe Redmond’s late intervention.
The hosts were second best for most of the night, but were finishing with a flourish as Derry tried to protect Jordan McEneff’s early opener in those late stages.
But little was falling their way as shots and crosses were snuffed out, while balls in the crowded box refused to fall their way.
Until, that is, Redmond outmuscled Mark Connolly at the near post to turn home Vladislav Kreida’s corner with a minute of normal time remaining.
Derry had used their streetsmarts to manage the second-half to their liking, with St Pat’s operating at arm’s length until that late, late lapse in concentration.
Derry’s cause wasn’t helped when Michael Duffy shipped an injury in the warm-up and had to be replaced, while Cameron McJannet was injured before half-time.
But the Duffy withdrawal allowed Ruaidhri Higgins to have an early look at new signing Ollie O’Neill who only joined on loan from Fulham on Thursday.
And it was a tactical switch involving the Ireland U21 international that paid dividends for the FAI Cup holders midway through the opening half.
When goalkeeper Brian Maher sat down in the 16th minute, few inside the sold-out ground believed he was actually injured.
Rather, the break in play allowed Derry boss Higgins to usher his team towards the bench for a tactical reshuffle.
St Pat’s were wise to the antics and Clancy shuffled over to the Derry huddle in the hope of earwigging, only for the fourth official to point the way back to the bench.
Chris Forrester wasn’t falling for it either and gave a knowing wink to Higgins.
Gamesmanship for sure but Higgins’ switch to a box midfield - with O’Neill in a more advanced, central role, alongside McEneff, rather than out wide - helped shore up that midfield area which St Pat’s had free rein of until then.
And Derry were almost rewarded for the tweak when O’Neill played in Ryan Graydon who only had David Odumosu to beat, but the goalkeeper made a brilliant one-handed save to thwart him close in.
Three minutes later, Odumosu nearly went from hero to villain when a poor clearance fell to O’Neill who attempted to chip the stranded keeper, only for Redmond to make a vital headed clearance to prevent a goal.
But Derry, who were in control at this stage, got their reward in the 32nd minute when McEneff - who scored the final goal in November’s FAI Cup final - latched onto Redmond’s poor clearance to scoop the ball over Odumosu.
St Pats were lacking a focal point in their attack.
While Tommy Lonergan is back after a decent scoring return for UCD last season, he rarely troubled the Candystripes at a time when the hosts were crying out for a presence up front.
Jake Mulraney, the former Hearts midfielder back from a spell in the MLS, and Serge Atakayi gave the hosts more purpose after their arrival.
Jamie Lennon stung Maher’s palms with a low drive from distance as the Saints launched a last gasp push for a point.
Little was falling their way but, to their credit, they had Derry by the scruff of the neck and refused to bend, with Redmond leading the way for a scrambled point late on.
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